7 July 1942

7 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Alderney: moderate to fresh SW–W breeze, calm sea, visibility ten to fifteen nautical miles. 03:00: V 202/208 sail with convoy for Cherbourg. 05:45 St Malo: V 203/204 anchor with convoy at the roadstead. 06:00 Cherbourg: V 202/208 arrive with convoy from Alderney. 06:30 St Malo: V 206/209 arrive with convoy from Guernsey. 06:30 Cherbourg: V 711/724 return from patrol position. M 1204 and M 4605/4604 are ordered to sail alone from St Malo at 13:00 to collect Granville’s requested 15:15 convoy for St Malo, then anchor at the roadstead during night 7/8 July at the Division’s disposal.

10:00 St Malo: I embark in V 203 and go to sea with V 204 for trials of SDG (F) [source designation]. Handling the gear entirely by hand is difficult and only reasonably possible with assistance from engine manoeuvres and numerous men. With the installed hand winch, the depth-control kite can be recovered without difficulty. With the spreading kite and sweep wires attached, however, the hand-winch fastenings tear out despite reversing the vessel to assist recovery. I break off the trial so that the hand-winch installation can be strengthened. 13:00 St Malo: V 203/204 enter. 13:30: M 1204/4605/4604 sail alone for Granville.

Situation: V 202/208 Alderney–Cherbourg with Tinda, Corona, Heinrich and Meteor, then ready; V 711/724 at Bremse during night 6/7 July, then ready for Georgi troop convoy Cherbourg–Alderney overnight; V 209/206 finish Minotaure convoy to St Malo, then ready; V 203/204 finish Ad. le Prince convoy, then training passage with minesweeping gear and readiness; V 713/729 replenishing stores St Malo; M 1204/4605/4604 alone St Malo–Granville, then H 2 and Holland to St Malo; M 4601 ready St Malo. Escorted tonnage 4,000 GRT.

Intentions for 8 July: V 202/208 ready Cherbourg, at Brummer–Bremse overnight, then Alderney–Cherbourg convoy; V 711/724 finish Georgi troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey, then ready for its return to Alderney during night 8/9 July; V 209/206/203/204 ready St Malo; V 713/729 replenishing stores, then ready; M 1204/4605/4604 at St Malo Roads overnight at the Division’s disposal; M 4601 ready St Malo. V 203/204 are assigned Granville’s convoy requested for 15:30 on 8 July. Harbour Commandant Granville is informed that, considering high water, escort will be provided at 16:30, and is asked to send Diamant only as far as Jersey so that the whole convoy need not wait off Jersey.

16:00 Granville: M 1204/4605/4604 arrive outside. 16:15: they begin the return passage with convoy. 19:00 Cherbourg: V 711/724 sail with convoy. 20:00 St Malo: M 1204/4605/4604 anchor at the roadstead as the Division’s available section. 21:45 Alderney: V 711/724 arrive from Cherbourg. 23:00 Cherbourg: V 202/208 sail for Carmen/Caruso. 23:00 Alderney: V 711/724 sail with troop convoy for Guernsey. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0401–0402.